A political fight has broken out over the allocation of federal disaster funding in flood-affected areas of northern NSW.
Federal opposition spokesman for housing Jason Clare accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of withholding disaster funds from stricken communities to maximise the political benefit of an announcement.
"It's been more than two weeks since thousands and thousands of Aussies had their lives washed away, since people lost their homes," Mr Clare said.
"Today we find out that help is being held up because Scott Morrison hasn't signed the paperwork.
"We know Scott Morrison doesn't hold a hose, the least he could do is hold a pen.
"My message today to Scott Morrison is this: 'Hurry up. Hurry up'."
Multiple outlets have reported the release of a $1 billion funding package prepared by the NSW government, and jointly funded by the state and Commonwealth, was obstructed at the federal level as Mr Morrison tours Western Australia.
Mr Morrison denied those claims on Thursday, saying he had received the state's proposal on Tuesday night, and had met with the attorney-general and national security committee of cabinet to work through the details.
"That is the normal process and as I indicated to the premier we'll be turning that around as quickly as possible," Mr Morrison said.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean acknowledged concerns over the allocation of funds, but told the ABC he did not think they were being handed out on a partisan basis.
The treasurer said funds needed to be extended to Byron, the Tweed Shire and Ballina to help people that "need it most".
Mr Kean said the government was working on a new package, which Nine Newspapers reports could be worth up to $8 billion, to capture people outside the current framework,
Separately, a further $9 million in funding for northern NSW and Queensland was announced on Thursday.
"The immediate financial and material losses associated with the floods has significantly impacted many people's ability to access food and clothing, and to pay bills and manage debt," Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said.
The funds, directed to 83 emergency and food relief services supporting flood victims will help services "continue to deliver vital support" Ms Ruston said.
Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said she had not yet been contacted by the prime minister's office following extensive flooding in the region.
"The only way I can get through this, basically, is to believe that the prime minister's office doesn't have our numbers yet and as soon as he is made aware of the devastation, the human toll that we've had (he will be in touch)," Ms Cherry told the ABC on Thursday.
"I'm just hoping that message gets through very quickly."
NSW Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack, from the Northern Rivers, said she would quit the party over what she believed was a decision to allocate federal disaster payments along party lines.
Funds were given to Nationals-held council areas Lismore, the Clarence Valley and Richmond Valley, and not to Byron, Ballina and the Tweed Shires, which are Labor seats.
"The idea that being a flood victim in a National Party-held seat makes you more worthy than a flood victim who is in the Richmond electorate ... is probably the most unethical approach I have ever seen," Ms Cusack said.
"The whole Northern Rivers should have been given funding according to their need, not according to their LGA," she said.
Geoff Provest, the Nationals member for Tweed, said he had lost faith in the prime minister's ability to lead.
